“Are you tired of remaining with us?”
There was something in the outlaw’s tone that savored of kindness. Ernest felt that in some way he had ingratiated himself with him.
“I would like my freedom. I am not used to confinement,” he said.
“Very natural. I cannot let you go just yet, but I will not allow you to be harmed. Listen! I shall be away all day probably. Do what you can to amuse Frank.”
“I will. I should be very lonely without him.”
“That is a good boy, Hugh,” said James Fox, as Ernest left them. “I should like to keep him with us.”
“Why don’t you then?”
“I am afraid he would be unhappy.”
“I never knew you to take such a liking to a boy before.”
“I never have. Indeed I have seldom met any. All my dealings have been with men. But, Hugh, we must lose no time. We must try to rescue John. It is no more than he would do for me if our cases were reversed.”